Turn-out for electric railways



-(No Model.)

B. M. HUNTER. TURN'OUT FOR ELECTRIC. RAILWAYS.

No. 445,409. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

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UNITED STATES PATENT EEIcE.

RUDOIJPI'I M. HUNTER OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO THE THOMSON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY OEBOSTON,MASSACHUSETTS.

TURN OUT FOR ELECTRIC RAELWAYS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,409, dated January27, 1891.

Application filed Julie 29, 1887. Serial No. 242,847. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH M. HUNTER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inElectric Railways, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to electric railways; and it consists incertainimprovements, all of which are fully set forth in the follow- IOing specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings, which formpart thereof.

The particular feature of my present application is the embodiment in anelectric railway or system of electric railways of the I 5 followingimprovements: a turn-out for the collectors and cars on a single-trackrailway, this turn-out being of peculiar construction and the switchesbeing operated by the collectors automatically, (the trackmaybethereturn- 2o conductor, if so desired, and would preferably havethe track-switch in advance of the conductor-switch;) acollector-trolley adapted to hold the suspended conductor with africtional pressure to create a good contact, and,

further, provided with a locking device to prevent the collector fromjumping or running off the conductor; a positive means of holding theconductor upon its supports and retaining it in an insulated position.

The foregoing are the essential features of my invention, and incarrying them into effect there are involved many details which arefully referred to hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective 3 5 view of the turnoutconductors. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same. Fig. 3 is a planview ofsame. Fig. 4: is a cross-section of same on line y y. Fig. 5 is across-section of same on line a: m. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of thecol- 0 lector-trolley. Fig. 7 is an end view of same. Fig. 8 is across-sectional elevation of the conductors. Fig. 9 isa front elevationof one of the conductor-supports. Fig. 10 is a plan view of same; andFig. 11 is a cross-section of an electric railway, showing the rails asreturn-conductors.

The conductors C may be made of wires or cables or suspended conductorsof any kind.

As shown in Fig. 8, poles are arranged on opposite sides of the street,and a wire M is strung across. From this Wire is hung theinsulator-block L, from which depend the metal supports K, upon whichthe conductors rest. The supports K are made like hooks, and the frontpart is provided with lateral curved guides 1 and a front flangen, forpurposes explained hereinafter. The conductor 0* may be tied down uponthe support by a copper or other metal strap N, which is fastened by awire staple O or otherwise.

The trolley .I is shown in Figs. Sand 7, and consists, essentially, ofthe frame J, to which is journaled the two shafts R, upon which thecontact and supporting wheels T are secured. These wheels are made intwo parts split longitudinally in the plane of their revolution, so asto form two flanged disks t t. One of these disks tis secured to theshaft R and the other is pressed toward it by the spring 0', carriedupon the end of the shaft which projects through the fixed disk and actsas a center and guide for the movable disk 1. By this construction theflanges of the wheel T are caused to bite upon the lateral faces of theconductor, and thereby produce a good frictional contact. The spring 0'is made of light weight, so as to be adapted to give to allow the weightof the trolley to force the wheels down upon the conductor. The tensionof this spring 0' may be adjusted by a nut q". The bottom part of theframe of the trolley is extended, as at J to form in a measure acounterbalance-weightof the upper overhanging portion and at the sametime form a means of attachment with the conductor-cords l'cadin g downto the motor or car.

To prevent the trolley from jumping or running off the conductor, Iprovide a lockingroller S, whichis loosely journaledon the lower end ofa hinged frame or arm 3, carried by the frame J. As shown in Fig. 7, theedge of this roller or Wheel extends under the couductor C, and therebyprevents it from riding up. lVhen this trolley is passing a support K, 5the roller S runs upon guides is, so as to be pushed out of the way inpassing the support and then falls back again under the conductor. Toprevent jumping in passing over the support, the flange n is provided,so that the edge of the roller or wheel S passes along beneath the saidflange, and thereby prevents the trolley-wheels from riding up. Thecurrent from the conductor passes through the trolley down theconductor-cord Q through a variable resistance (1 on the car P to the motor 19. (See Fig. 11.)

lVe now come to the turn-out 0, Figs. 1 to 5. The line-conductor C iscontinuous; but at the beginning of the turn-out is provided with aswitch E, pivoted at e on an oblique axis journaled in the frameF on orsupported by a post G or other structure. This switch E is supported inthe raised position by a spring'f, or, if desired, a weight. (See dottedlines, Fig. 1.) lVhen the switch is depressed, it moves to the side to aslight extent owing to the oblique axis, and when so lowered it restsupon the support 71, which is a terminal of the turn-out conductor II.This turn-out conductor II at the start is below the lineconductor, butgradually rises, extending slightly above it, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2,and terminates in another switch E, also provided with a spring orweight, as in the case ofswitch E, to raise it sufficiently high toallow a trolley moving down the line (3 to pass under it. This switch Emay be arranged slightly'to one side of the main line C if so desired,in which case it would not have to be raised so high, as then itwouldwork on the same principle as the switch Ethat is, having a downward andlateral movement. Vhen the trolley moves end on to the switch E, itmayfor an instant depress the switch, but will quicklypass over it onto themain line. For this reason no lock is necessary to hold the switch up.

I is the car, having the motor P for propelling it. Q is thesupply-conductor con necting thetrolley J with the motor on the car, andis provided with a current-regulator q of any suitable construction.

I do not'limitmyself to the details of construetion, as they may bemodified in various ways without departing from my invention.

In this application I do not claim the invention of the suspendedconductor with the trolley, nor that with a return-rail conductor, asthose features form subject-matter of my applications Nos. 214,309 and215,199, of 1886.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure byLetters Patent, is

-1. Ina current-collecting trolley, the combination of supporting-wheelsto run upon the line-conducton'a supporting-frame having a connectionfor the collecting'conductor, and a horizontal and laterally movableguardwheel normally out of contact with the lineconductor and adapted toproject under-the line-conductor and prevent abnormal upward movement ofthe collecting-wheels.

2. In a current-collectin g trolley, the combination ofsupporting-wheels to run upon the conductors, a support-ingframe havingaconnection for the collecting-conductor, a horizontal and laterally movable guard-wheel adapted to project under the line-conductor and prevent the upward movement of the collectingwheels, a pivoted armsupporting said guardwheel to the supporting-frame, whereby said wheelis adapted to hang by gravity so as to normally bring its edge undertheline-conductor.

3, In a on rrent-collecting trolley, the combination ofsupporting-Wheels made in two parts 25 t to grip the line-conductor andadapted to run upon the same, a spring to press these parts together, asupporting-frame having a connection for the collecting-conductor, and ahorizontal and laterally movable guardwheel adapted to project under theline-conductor and prevent the upward movement of the collecting-wheels.

t. A collector-wheel having a grooved periphery and divided in the planeof rotation so as to rest upon the conductor and grip it on the sides,in combination with a spring to press said parts together to form acomplete grooved wheel. 7

5. The combination of a collector trolley havingoneormorecollecting-wheelsil, formed of the parts If t, substantially as shown,an axle to support said wheels, aspring to press the two parts of thewheels together, and a frame supporting axles and extending below thewheels.

(5. The combination of a collector-trolley havingone or morecollecting-wheels T, formed of the parts 25 t, substantially as shown,an axle to support said wheels, a spring encircling theaxle to press thetwo parts of the wheels together, and a frame supporting axles andextending below the'wheels.

7 The combination of a collector-trolley having one or morecollecting-wheels T, formed of the parts t t, substantially as shown, anaxle to support said wheels, a spring to press the two parts of thewheels together, means for adjusting the tension of the spring, and aframe supporting axle and extending be low the wheels.

8. The support for theworking-conductor, consisting of the arm having asupport-for the polnductor and lateral guide flanges or'parts a c.

9. The support for the working-conductor, consisting of the arm having asupport for the conductor, lateral guide flanges or-parts c 7r, andretainingsband N.

10. The support for the working-conductor, consisting .of the arm havinga support for the conductor and lateral guide flanges or parts 7c,having locking-flanges.

11. The combination of a suspended conductor for supplying electricityto an electrically-propelled vehicle, a hanging support for saidconductor extending down upon one side of same, a current-collecting.trolley running upon said conductor and havinga curved depending orhanging conducting-arm ex tending down below and under the conductor and111 a line through the trolley-wheels, an

lIO

electrically-propelled vehicle, and a conductor connecting the dependingarm of the trolley with the vehicle.

12. The combination of a suspended conductor with a current-collectin gtrolley having two grooved supporting-wheels arranged in line runningupon said conductor and provided with a locking device connected to theframe of the collector above the conductor and extendingdown to a pointbelow the conductor to preventit from running off the conductor.

13. In an electric railway, the line-con ductor, a branching conductorat a lower point than the line-conductor, and a hinged switch-pointadapted to rise or fall to come into line with either the line orbranching conductor and connect the line-conductor with the branchingconductor.

14:. In an electric railway, the line-condnctor, abranching conductor atalower pointthan the line-conductor and to one side there of, and ahinged switch-point having a transverse oblique axis adapted to rise orfall in an oblique direction to come into line with either the line orbranching conductor.

15. In an electric railway, the line-conductor, a branching conductorata lower point than the line-conductor, a hinged switch-point adaptedto rise or fall to come into line with either the line or branchingconductor and adapted to connect the 1ine-conductorwith the-branchingconductor, and a spring or its equivalent to raise said switch tonormally close the line-conductor.

16. The combination of the line-conductor insulated from the earth andmade continuous, a branching conductor having its ter1ninal at a higherpoint than the line-conductor, and a hinged switch-point pivoted to theend of the branch and adapted to swing down at an angle upon theline-conductor to guide a trolley from one conductor to the other.

17. The combination of the line electric conductor insulated from theearth and made continuous, a branching electric conductor having itsterminal at a higher point than the line-conductor, a hingedswitch-point pivoted to the end of the branch and adapted to swing downat an angle upon the line-conductor to guide a trolley from oneconductor to the other, and a spring or equivalent device to normallyhold said switch in a raised position to make the line-conductor clearfor passage of a trolley under the switch.

18. The combination of the line electric conductor insulatedfrom theearth and made continuous, a branching electric conductor having itsterminal at a higher point than the line conductor and to oneside-thereof, and a hinged switch having a transverse oblique axisadapted to rise and fall obliquely and laterally to come in line withthe line-conductor or allow a clear passageway for a trolley over theline-conductor.

19. The combination of the line -conductor, a turn-out conductor havingone of its ends lower and the other end higher than the lineconductor,and a switch at each end to connect the line and branch conductors.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

RUDOLPH M. HUNTER. Witnesses:

RIoHn. S. CHILD, J12, E. M. BRECKINREED.

